Weekend Getaways From Boston

Situated on a peninsula in Casco Bay on the Gulf of Marine and the Atlantic Ocean, Portland is a gorgeous seaport city with marvellous history and captivating sights to spot. Historically known for its commerce activities at its seaports, the city has now transformed into a tourist hub, especially known for its history with arts. Portland is regarded as a very walkable city.

Best time to visit: June to August
Things to do:
- Visit the Art’s District which houses the Portland Museum of Art, Maine Historical Society & Museum to learn about Portland’s history.
- Tour of Casco Bay Islands to view the city’s skyline.
- Visit some of the historical parks like Baxter Boulevard, Deering Oaks Park.
- Tour the Breweries and attend opera concerts.
Distance from Boston: 1 hr 44 min (112.2 mi) via I-95 N

Known as the “Queen of Summer Resorts”, Newport is a breathtakingly beautiful city by the seaside. It has a rich history with various sports ranging from sailing, cycling and tennis to being known for its historic mansions and cottages. Hence, it is known for its Gilded Age mansions and cottages that were built in different styles inspired by the royal palaces in Europe. It is known for hosting tennis and golf tournaments and also houses the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Best Time to Visit: May to Aug (18◦C — 25◦C).
Things to do:
Visit the Newport Cliff Walk
attend the Newport Jazz Festival
The Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships (held every year in early July).
Distance: 74 miles south of Boston.

Located in the gorgeous, green Berkshire County, Lenox is a beautiful small town. It is a famous retreat during the summers usually for hiking, orchestra concerts, visiting mansions previously occupied by famous people. It is also known for housing Shakespeare & Company, Tanglewood and others. This makes it a perfect town to enjoy concerts and go hiking during the summer. It is located between the two airports that have national flights, one in New York and one in Connecticut, which make your travel easy.

Best time to visit: Late September to Early November
Places to Visit: Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum, Church on the Hill, The Mount (Edith Wharton estate), Tanglewood, Ventfort Hall and Frelinghuysen Morris House and Studio are some of the most interesting places to check out in this pretty little town.
Distance: 125 miles (201 km) west of Boston.

Providence, the capital city of Rhode Island and also one of the most populous cities in the US, is an apt representation of “small town meets big city”. This city has everything ranging from exciting nightlife to family-friendly places to visit. It is also noted for textiles, jewellery, silverware, so be sure to check those out. A wide variety of events ranging from arts, concerts, baseball and hockey tournaments to local festivals happen here at different times all around the year.

Best time to Visit: June - August and September to November.
Places to visit: Waterplace Park, Prospect Terrace Park, The First Baptist Church in America and RISD Museum
Distance from Boston: 55 min (51.mi) via I-93S and I-95S.

Situated between mountains, Manchester is a small town to the south of Vermont. Decorated with greenery on all sides and beautiful architecture, this town is a year-round tourist spot. It’s a place known for hikers visiting during summers and exploring the sceneries, while during the winters, it’s a skiing spot.

Best time to visit: June to August and September to December.
Things to do: Visit the Equinox (Hiking spot with a monastery), Lye Brook Falls Trail, American Museum of Fly Fishing, Museum of Creative Process and Equinox Pond. 
Distance from Boston: 3 h 10 min (153.5 mi) via MA-2 W and VT-30 N.

Martha’s Vineyard is located on the Atlantic simply south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Known for being a famous summer colony, it consists of sandy beaches, cottages, farmlands and towns, subsequently a popular spot to spend your summers at. This additionally makes it a perfect place for couples to visit on a lovely vacation.

Best time to visit: March to September
Things to do:
- Visit the Flying Horses Carousel
- Gay Head Light
- Aquinnah Cliffs Overlook
- Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge
- Martha’s Vineyard Museum
- Lighthouse Beach
Distance from Boston: 69 miles

Block Island, a small island with an area of 25.2 km2 lying about 14 miles south of Rhode Island, is filled with pretty beaches, lighthouses, bridges that are perfect for sailing, cycling, hiking and fishing. It’s the best summer getaway location for people of all ages and is a popular tourist spot. It’s also famous for celebrating events like the Fourth of July Parade, Block Island Race Week (a competition for sailing) and so much more! The island experiences an oceanic climate where the winters are slightly warm due to the surrounding water.

Best time to visit: June to September.
Things to Do:
- Visit the Mohegan Bluffs for the scenery
- Mansion Beach
- The Atlantic Inn
- Abrams Animal Farm
- Block Island Wind Farm
- North Lighthouse
Distance from Boston: 30-minute ferry ride or a 12-minute scheduled flight by New England Airlines.

Berkshires is a famous highland region, mostly known for the Green Mountains that extend into Massachusetts. It’s a year-round vacation destination because of the famous hiking trails, waterfalls (Berkshires houses on the oldest and tallest waterfalls in Massachusetts), museums, orchestra concerts and so on. It is the best vicinity for sporty activities like hiking, cycling and also for thoroughly enjoying the arts like attending opera concerts, dance festivals etc. Some famous events and festivals that take place here include the Annual Triathlon, Berkshire Jewish Film Festival and Fall Foliage Festival etc.

Best time to visit: June to August
Things to do:
- Ski Butternut Tubing Center
- Monument mountain Reservation
- Beartown State Forest
- Otis Ridge
Distance from Boston: 5 hours (via train).

Named after its shipbuilding and fishing business, Kennebunkport is a picturesque town with beaches, ports and cottages everywhere. It has an entire district lined with souvenir shops, art galleries, seafood restaurants and B&Bs because it is a very popular year-round vacation destination. People especially visit during the summers to enjoy the gorgeous views by the water, to surf and tour this lovely historic town.

Best time to visit: June to October
Places to visit:
- Seashore Trolley Museum
- Gooch’s Beach (surfing)
- Ocean Avenue
- Goat Island Lighthouse
- St. Ann’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church
- Walker’s Point
- Rockin Horse Stables
Distance from Boston: 45 minutes (via taxi).

Portsmouth is another seaport town on our list because of its exciting records and urban settlements today. It is additionally acknowledged for its history, scenic views, tax-free shopping, enjoyment parks and beaches. It's a city that affords fun activities for people of all ages.

Best time to visit: June to September, these are also some of the busiest months due to a large amount of tourists.
Things to do:
- Strawbery Banke Museum
- Water Country Water Park
- USS Albacore Museum
- Market Square
- Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse
- Prescott Park
Distance from Boston: 1.5 hours (via train).

Located at the tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Provincetown is a small town famous for its beaches, harbour towns, artists, tourist industry and is a coastal resort destination during the summers. It’s also called as P town and is a famous destination for the LGBTQ+ community. Provincetown has a very favourable climate with cool summers and warm winters.

Best time to visit: May to September.
Places to Visit:
- Pilgrim Monument
- Race Point Beach
- Race Point Lighthouse
- Herring Cove Beach
- Commercial Street
- Long Point
Distance from Boston: 90 minutes (via ferry).

Previously served as a battlefield in King Philip’s War, Groton is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts in the metropolitan area of Boston. Groton is a beautiful city, more like a green-land with a vast expanse of trees, orchards and it consists of many bridges, vintage restaurants, and hiking trails.

Best time to visit: late May to October.
Distance from Boston: 50 min (42.3 mi) via US-3 N
Places to Visit:
- Nashua River Rail Trail
- Groton Town Forest
- J. Harry Rich State Forest
- Bancroft’s Castle
- Groton’s Historical Society
- Pirone Park.

Springfield, named “The City of Firsts”, is the third-largest and fourth-most populous city in Massachusetts. It’s called “The City of Firsts” due to several innovations in the city like the first dictionary, the first automobile and so on. In the early 20th century, the city was known for manufacturing several products like brass goods, jewellery, silverware, toys, clothing and so on.

Best time to visit: mid-June to mid-September
Things to do:
- Six Flags New England
- Dr Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden
- Superman The Ride
- Eastern States Exposition
- Springfield Museums
Distance from Boston: 1 h 30 min {(90.9 miles) via I-90 W}.

Nantucket, a famous tourist destination and a summer colony, is a small island just 30 miles south of Cape Cod. It is popular for the beaches, hiking trails, museums, visual arts and so on. It has also been the subject of many literary/dramatic works by authors in Nantucket. There are many fun activities to do and places you can visit on your holiday.

Best time to visit: March, April, September and October
Things to do:
- Whaling Museum
- Brant Point Lighthouse
- Great Point Lighthouse
- Jetties Beach
- Madaket Beach
- Cisco Beach
Distance from Boston: 90 miles.